The Fianna Fáil health spokesperson says the €1 billion target for Health Service savings next year is not "credible" or "sustainable".

Last night it was confirmed that the HSE will have overspent by €351 million by the end of this year, and it will receive a €219 million bailout once once it has been voted on by the Dáil next week.

That is on top of the €666 million in savings earmarked in Budget 2014.

However a slash to the capital budget of €50 million and cutting another €82 million from pension lump sum payments will leave the bailout needed at €219 million.

And the Department of Health expects to make another €20 million in savings, meaning James Reilly needs an extra €199 million which is to come from other government departments.

Fianna Fáil health spokesperson Billy Kelleher told Breakfast here on Newstalk that the Health Service simply cannot make those cutbacks - and patient care could suffer as a result.

Speaking in Brussels yesterday, the Health Minister defended the health system against criticism.